MHS students wrap up Toys for Tots collection effort

Published December 20, 2012 at 2:40 pm

Monticello High School students wrapped up this year’s Toys for Tots effort with a total of $1,030 donated and almost 600 items collected in a two-month span.
According to Maree Smith, MHS junior and student council public relations chairperson, each MHS grade had a specific drop-off area during the school’s drive.
Students collected new and unwrapped toys, books, other gifts and cash donations during the months of November and December, Smith stated in an email.
Toys were collected Friday, Dec. 14. Students were helped by a group of Toys for Tots volunteers.
Monticello High School Student Council officers Tyler Roberts, Brooke Volpone, Annie Dockendorf and Maree Smith helped lead the collection effort.
“At the high school, we make it a competition to see which grade has brought in the most toys,” Smith said. “Both students and teachers get very excited about Toys for Tots.”
She added: “It is a fun way to show our competitiveness while helping out in our community for a good cause.”
Toys for Tots is an annual holiday program run by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve which distributes toys to children whose parents cannot afford to buy them Christmas gifts.
Reservist Maj. William L. Hendricks founded the program in 1947. The primary goal of Toys for Tots is to deliver a message of hope to less fortunate youngsters that will assist them in becoming responsible, productive and patriotic citizens.
MHS students unite in a common cause during the annual toy collection campaign, Smith said.